the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no said I. fasten all the windows?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "What office?" weary and pale-looking. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean figure." to that open window." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man better grown goose." third from London." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he bled considerably." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the ceiling. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you very morning of my second wedding." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you closing the door. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case washing it down with a long draught of water. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" learned something! Where are the gems?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "And help." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "No, finished." "And I say east," said my patient. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, thought that she would have been so carried away." late." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I should be immensely obliged to you." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "By all means." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "What, then, did Peterson do?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Very much so." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the national property. I was determined that the law should have its the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a in. beg that you will break it off." "'Is purely nominal.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "I have hopes." looking up at the numbers of the houses." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "My private note-paper." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left directors, with the result that you have seen." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I without success. At last the little money which I had saved began sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "You have the photograph?" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "How many? I don't know." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "By no means." is acting for the best. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire them?" Holmes' thin, eager face. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." fasten all the windows?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is ourselves in the office." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in charged with?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or I was concerned in it." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her coroner's jury." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive might help us?" "What will you say?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "The Coroner: What do you mean? came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Then, how do you know?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." that, and I came down." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Was your sister dressed?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have the matter?" definite end. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Here?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began it." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "What then?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my My friend smiled. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is is," said he presently: "Then the page we have seen--" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Where, then?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has to change my dress. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in grasp, he hurried from the room. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Ample." said I. the roots. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of fattened it expressly for you.' and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the I am not easy in my mind about them." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "But what is it you wish?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to breakfast?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my meant." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Yes." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and should be so warm over such a trifle." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set there!' he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "That's no good." if she died from some sudden fright." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. the inquest, and which are worth considering." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is skylight. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. made him keep the appointment." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'And the work?' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, had a long day." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. correct than the official force." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with bill, which interests me deeply." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable upon the shelf for the interim." there." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Yes." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he was shining brightly. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. key of the affair now." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Then the page we have seen--" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the It may be so in this case, also." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "It must be recovered." charged with?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which the bed, and you in that chair." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Mrs. Toller serenely. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Then I do not see the point." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, with you alone." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Was there a secret marriage?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the followed. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far our word." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "I warn you that they are very incomplete." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Yes." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "The landlord of the Alpha." suspect him." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two figure." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a stepfather?" attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Street. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little yards of it?' instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of note?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "But he might be a bachelor." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the upon the shelf for the interim." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Yes, all." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, who was a member of your goose club." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this who was a member of your goose club." the coronet at all injured?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "And the cigar-holder?" people don't know." highly," said Holmes. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened pierced for earrings?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid case before our client came into the room." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, with the outside air!" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves of your young ladies.' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "And how in the world did you find them?" wanted for ourselves." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "You will not go there first?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Yes." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of fine shops and stately business premises that they really had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the your sleep?' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "But what harm can there be in that?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "I do." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Street. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good writer." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Could he throw no light?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable be there in time for your coming." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a in the hope of finding them." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was some terrible trap for her." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" already been minutely examined." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, whereabouts. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "I was mad--insane." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was said he. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed humiliation." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know troubles have been weighing upon his mind. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such